Tonight on Fuel at 7 p.m. is a special on the 50 greatest moments in UFC of 2012. The Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes UFC 142 PPV airs at 8 p.m. The Australia show from Friday replays tonight at midnight.

With so much news coming out of WWE this past week, as well as major shows from UFC and ROH, we've got two issues of the Observer coming out this week on the web site along with the weekly back issue from 1995. The back issue and the first issue will be on the site today, with the second issue out tomorrow. For mail subscribers, they are combined into one double issue.

Our lead story talks about the return of Ric Flair to WWE, with lots of exclusive details on the deal. We look at the ratings for his segment, ratings overall, why not advertising Flair ahead of time was done even though it probably hurt the potential rating of the show. We also look at what age group was the strongest to see Flair, an answer that will surprise people. We also look at Flair's status with WWE, what angle is talked about, and what he will or won't be allowed to do as of today, but how the original ideas were already changed.

We look at the biggest issue regarding him being signed, and a second potential issue. We look at what Flair was ordered to do in Philadelphia when he got there, who knew and why, as well as a look at the segment.

We also look at the situation with Rey Mysterio and Sin Cara and why the angles were shot. We also look at the return of Tommy Dreamer, how the ratings fell for his return, and what his situation is with the company.

We also look at the debut of Big E Langston, give background on him, and note how recently the plans were made to bring him in with this role. We also look at the talent most likely to follow him in from NXT. We look at his background and why Langston fit into so many things different people in the company like from talent.

We also have a look at the Raw Slammy Awards show, with a complete rundown of every segment on the show, stories behind them and how the audience came and went during each segment.

We've also got a complete rundown of the TLC PPV, with notes on the show, the business of the show, the finishes, match-by-match coverage with star ratings and poll results on the show.

We also have the same coverage for both UFC shows over the weekend.

We've got more on the implosion of the Pro Wrestling NOAH organization with the official word of five more major stars leaving the group. We look at their final matches, who they are, and what is next.

We also have an update on how Ring of Honor looks going into 2013. We look at the inherent problems with the group, attempts that have been made to expand the audience, the competition for Final Battle, the business for Final Battle, the farewell to Jerry Lynn, the Steen vs. Generico ladder match, the roles of Matt Hardy, Nigel McGuinness and what ROH star gave notice before the show started.

We also have match-by-match coverage with star ratings as well as poll results on the show.

We also have an update on Randy Orton, WrestleMania 2013, Punk vs. Ryback and why 1/7 is going to be a very tough night for WWE. We also look at a Hall of Fame wrestler who was in talks about returning to WWE for Mania and where it stands.

We also go into detail about the WWE's affiliation with Hire Heroes USA, a group run by UFC star Brian Stann. We look at how this happened, why it happened and what to expect from it.

We look at ideas that have at least for this week been dropped. We have surprising notes on the network, Punk's return, Big Show talks tag team philosophy, what you'll probably never see him do again, who he thinks are future stars and someone in developmental he's high on. Ryback talks getting to No. 1. Why JBL is getting hate reaction from a group of sports fans. We look at Mike Tyson talking WWE booking, DVR usage during Raw, new WWE signings and house show notes.

A note regarding Christmas season specials. We've got specials both on the web site and for the print Observer. If you order a gift subscription to someone new of four months for the web site or 16 issues for the Observer, you will get either one month free on the web site or four issues free of the Observer. There is no limit to the number of gift subscriptions you can order.

If you order 32 issues or more and you are not a current subscriber, you can get until Christmas a free copy of Tributes II. If you order a 32 issue gift subscription, you can also get a free copy of the book for yourself or the person you are ordering the subscription for.

The Wrestling Observer ranges weekly from 35,000 to 50,000 words covering pro wrestling and MMA internationally. Each issue has coverage and analysis of all the major news, plus every issue breaks major news stories before the Internet sties and has the most complete look at the pro wrestling and MMA business anywhere, plus history pieces available nowhere else.

The Observer is now in its 29th year of being the leading insider pro wrestling publication in the world. The biggest and most influential names in the pro wrestling and MMA industry, from bookers to promoters to Hall of Fame wrestlers and fighters to the biggest names on camera and behind the scenes, along with thousands of readers in all 50 states and more than 30 countries subscribe. Many have subscribed for 20 years or longer consecutively. They get the most detailed and inside coverage of what is going on all over the world. Everywhere from Wall Street to the major offices to television networks in the U.S. and Japan turn to the Observer for what is going on in the business.

If you are a new subscriber ordering 24 or more issues, you can get one free classic issue of your choice sent to you today. With a 40 issue subscription, you can get two free classic issues sent to you today. Just sent your Visa or Master Card order with your name, address, phone number, card number and expiration date to
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You can also subscribe via check, cash or money order, as well as credit card by mail, by sending to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228.

We also look at Twitter and Neilsen ratings with some interesting data about this week and thoughts of what can and can't be learned in theory, and why WWE and UFC already have the metrics in place as to what is and isn't working.

We also look at the career of Volk Han, who had his retirement match over the weekend.

We also have a look at the ratings of all the major shows and complete details on how every segment of Raw and Impact this past week did. We look at what segments gained and lost viewers

We also have results from all the major league arena events over the past week as well as a look at all the major television shows.

Also in this week's issues:

--More on how to view the New Japan Tokyo Dome show outside of Japan

--What New Japan star was Hiroshi Tanahashi concerned about leaving

--A new angle the company is starting from a major mainstream magazine

--What TNA star is rumored to be headed to New Japan

--New Japan star wins in legitimate sports competition

--More on Final Resolution and what it says about Jeff Hardy

--Kurt Angle talks injury situation

--What happened with TNA in Germany and the lay of the land there

--Update on Scott Steiner vs. TNA legal actions

--Eric Bischoff gets into a new business

--Former WCW star talks going to TNA

--Notes on El Hijo del Sting

--Why Magnus had the injury angle done

--Update on TNA injuries

--Update on UFC 158

--Lessons learned from UFC on FOX

--More on the matchmaking of UFC 158

--A look at UFC's return to Japan

--Why the former mainstream stars in Japan in UFC aren't on the show

--A look at what Kid Yamamoto wants to do next

--Business changes within FOX Sports and how UFC may be affected

--Updates on ticket sales to upcoming UFC shows and what they say

--Update on the next UFC show on FOX

--What fighter blew his chance to be on network TV and how

--What the rating of the next UFC on FOX show will tell us

--Update on Nick Diaz vs. Nevada State Athletic Commission in court

--Middleweight title picture

--Bantamweight title picture

--Pay for the fighters at the last few shows

--What next for fighters of the last season of Ultimate Fighter

--Lots of new UFC fights

--Three UFC fighters in an upcoming movie

--Funny poll from 1996 and what it says

--A look at CMLL's year-end show

--The death of Faisan and a look back at a historical match from 30 years ago

--All Japan early year lineups and first major show

--All Japan regular about to lave for unique reason

--All Japan Fan Appreciation show notes

--Notes on Kenta Kobashi training for his last match

--How two New Japan Hall of Famers were covered in major U.S. newspapers this past week and why

--What former pro wrestler was the high school football coach of a Heisman Trophy winner

New subscribers ordering 24 or 40 issues have to let us know what major stories of the past 11 years you are most interested in and we'll send the issue with the best coverage of that story. We've got coverage of every major PPV event and world wide spectacular, every major star switching promotions, histories of companies like FMW, Rings and New Japan, retirement and obit issues of every major star who fits into those descriptions over the past 11 years, as well as our biggest issue every year, the annual awards issue, and our most controversial issue of every year, the Hall of Fame issue.

Our most requested issues in our history are:

*November 17, 1997 (full details of everything leading to the most famous wrestling match finish of modern times at the Survivor Series plus a history of in-ring double-crosses)

*December 21, 1998 (the complete Vince McMahon-Bret Hart conversation right before the Survivor Series match so you'll know exactly what was said--the conversation played in edited form both on the inaugural broadcast of Confidential as well as in Wrestling with Shadows, but everything that was said between the two about the match that was going to take place that same night)

*August 1, 1994 (the most detailed coverage anywhere of the Vince McMahon steroid trial, an issue praised in numerous newspaper article and Sex, Lies and Headlocks)

*March 26, 2001 (death of WCW and history of pro wrestling on the Turner networks)

*October 22, 2001 (why the adult audience has left pro wrestling in such great numbers and what needed to have been done to save them)

*April 21, 2003 (history of WWF continues with the expansion nationally, the death of the regional territories and the rise of Hulk Hogan)

*May 12, 2003 (The life and death of Elizabeth and the rise of fall of Lex Luger)

*June 9, 2003 (Part 1 of history of WWF vs. WCW wars and what many say was the greatest year in U.S. wrestling; plus a look at Fred Blassie)

*June 16, 2003 (Freddie Blassie through the eyes of his biggest rivals and friends)

*July 28, 2003 (Part 2 of the history of the WWF vs. WCW war and the plans to make new superstars in the early 90s, what happened, and the night where the three biggest wrestling companies in the world combined for a joint show and what happened)

*August 25, 2003 (2003 Hall of Fame issue with huge profiles on the controversial career of Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit as well as historical features on Earl Caddock and Francisco Flores)

*September 22, 2003 (Part 3 of the history of the WWF vs WCW war with the seeds that caused the collapse of the industry in the 90s, Zahorian trial, Gulf War controversy, Flair leaves WCW while holding world title and much more)

*October 27, 2003 (The fascinating life of Stu Hart plus the story of Road Warrior Hawk)

*February 23, 2004 (History of Guerrero family with Eddy's win over Brock Lesnar)

*March 1, 2004 (History of WWF continues with the period that brought the company down in early 1992, the mistakes, the real stories and how the business changed)

*March 8, 2004 (History of Wrestlemania, its greatest matches and best and worst shows as voted both by wrestlers and non-wrestlers and Wrestlemania history books)

*July 5, 2004 (A look behind the scenes and Ric Flair's book and his background with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan)

*July 12, 2004 (A look at more on Ric Flair's book and his comments on Bruno Sammartino, Bret Hart and Mick Foley)

*August 16, 2004 (History of the Olympians in pro wrestling)

*August 23, 2004 (2004 Hall of Fame issue and biggest issue of the year with huge profiles on Kazushi Sakuraba, Undertaker, Bob Backlund, Masahiro Chono, Ultimo Dragon, Kurt Angle and Tarzan Lopez--this counts as one issue if you are asking for a free issue, but ordered separately, due to size, is $6 in North America and $7 overseas)

*October 4, 2004 (the life and times of Big Bossman; as well as details of the life and times of one of the most influential men world wide in pro wrestling history, Jim Barnett)

*November 15, 2004 (the full story of what happened between Kurt Angle and Daniel Puder, plus coverage of the most important week in the history of TNA)

*January 24, 2005 (2004 Awards issue, Rock and WWE part company)

*March 14, 2005 (the 50 biggest money players in the history of WWF and a look at their Hall of Fame)

*May 9, 2005 (the life and times of Chris Candido)

*June 20, 2005 (The full story behind Paul Heyman and the death of ECW, as well as coverage of One Night Stand, Hardcore Homecoming and behind the scenes of both shows)

*July 18, 2005 (death of Shinya Hashimoto and his records with a look at the fall of New Japan, the Matt Hardy angle, tons of WWE firings, Cornette firing in detail as well as problems of a WWE developmental territory in our biggest news issue of the year which is a double-sized issue and would be $6 on its own and $7 overseas)

*January 9, 2006 (The life and times of Superstar Billy Graham, plus New Year's Eve 2005 coverage)

*January 16, 2006 (2005 Awards double issue, $6 or $7 overseas)

*April 3, 2006 (Story of Ann Calvello and the history of Roller Derby--many called this the best issue of the Observer ever)

*April 10, 2006 (Behind the scenes at the 2006 Wrestlemania/Hall of Fame week)

*July 24, 2006 (The History of the Von Erichs and World Class Championship Wrestling--the most unreal story ever in wrestling)

*September 4, 2006 (The Rise and Fall of Kurt Angle; 2006 Hall of Fame inductions of Eddie Guerrero, Paul Bowser, Masakatsu Funaki, Aja Kong and Hiroshi Hase including tons of wrestling history around the world from the 20s through the 60s, the evolution of working to not working in Japan, and a look at Guerrero in hindsight, double issue $6 or $7 overseas)

*October 9, 2006 (A look back nine years later at the life and legacy of Brian Pillman with tons of inside information about what made him tick as his real objectives)

*November 15, 2006 (History of WCW part one, Eric Bischoff's book and how the industry was changed forever)

*November 27, 2006 (History of WCW part three, When Bischoff challenged McMahon to fight; Truth and fiction around Bret Hart signing with WCW and why it didn't click)

*December 6, 2006 (details behind Pride's offers to sell promotion and Part four of History of WCW part four, Hogan-Goldberg match and why there was no rematch, WCW loses NBC network deal in 1999 and the real reasons the company fell apart)

*August 11, 2008 (Ric Flair leaves WWE; Updated history of pro wrestlers and MMA fighters who went to the Olympics)

* September 8, 2008 (2008 Hall of Fame double issue, $7 on its own, $8 overseas; part one of Killer Kowalski bio)

* September 15, 2008 (Life and Times of Evan Tanner)

* September 22, 2008 (The amazing career of Killer Kowalski, one of our most in-depth bios)

You can also order any of these issues on their own for $4 in North America or $5 overseas.

Rates are:

For the United States, it is $12 for 4 issues, $29 for 12, $55 for 24, $91 for 40 and $118 for 52. In Canada and Mexico, rates are $13.50 for 4, $33 for 12, $61 for 24, $101 for 40 and $131 or 52. In Europe, you can get the fastest delivery and best rates by sending to
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For the rest of the world, rates are $15.50 for 4, $41 for 12, $78 for 24, $126 for 40 issues and $163 for 52 .

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order (P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228), you can get $1 off in every price range.

We now have available personally autographed copies of Tributes II, our latest book, as well as a DVD that comes with it talking more about the subjects in the book. The book covers the life stories of Lou Thesz, Wahoo McDaniel, Elizabeth, Fred Blassie, Road Warrior Hawk, Andre the Giant, Curt Hennig, Johnny Valentine, Davey Boy Smith, Terry Gordy, Owen Hart, Stu Hart, Gorilla Monsoon, The Sheik and Tim Woods..

To get all of those biographies as back issues of the Observer would be a $60 value today. This is a collection of some of the best Observer articles of the past several years in a hardcover, full-color format that is 239 pages. There is also a foreword by Bret Hart. The book price is $12.95 plus $3.50 for shipping costs in the U.S., $10 for shipping costs to Canada and $12 for shipping costs outside North America. You can order the book the same way you order the newsletter.

Wednesday's news update

--Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Ric Flair, Smackdown, the latest UFC news and taking your e-mail questions to
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--THQ Inc., the video game partner of WWE (no longer of UFC as they sold the license to EA a few months ago) filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy to alleviate past debts and were sold in an assets purchasing agreement by Clearlake Capital Group, LP. The deal includes Clearlake putting up $37.5 million in financing. They will continue to operate business subject to court approval. This is a story to watch. Right now nothing has publicly come out regarding WWE, but this could go in many different ways regarding the license as well as owed royalties from this year.

--A note regarding last night. They taped this coming Monday's Raw last night in Pittsburgh (results are on the site) and the main event was John Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio in a Christmas Street fight. After the match, Del Rio who was the heel, turned back and was shaking hands with fans. We'll see what does and doesn't end up airing.

--In the cable ratings for last week ESPN was No. 1 with 2.89 million viewers in prime time to 2.78 million for USA and 2.39 million for Disney. FX was No. 16 at 1.25 million and Syfy was No. 21 at 930,000. The three hours of Raw last week were No. 9, No. 14 and No. 17.

--Eddie Alvarez got his first offer from UFC. Bellator has two weeks to either match the offer or decline to match the offer. Apparently the offer was not anything like what Hector Lombard got since Bjorn Rebney said Bellator does have the capability to match it according to a report by Loretta Hunt having interviewed him.

--A note on the December 17, 1979, Madison Square Garden show that we covered on Monday. Mike Graham was an unannounced sub for a wrestler who was unknown and listed in the program, Dynamite Kid, who was scheduled to make his MSG debut. Not sure of why he wasn't on the show.

--C.M. Punk was on the Chris Hardwick Nerdist podcast. Hardwick is the host of the Walking Dead after show that Punk was on. (thanks to Mark Coale)

--After shows this week, there will be Raw tapings before WrestleMania in Pittsburgh on 3/18 and Philadelphia on 3/25.

I would not favor WrestleMania in this one. Very surprised at this result.

WILL BELLATOR AVERAGE 0.5 ON SPIKE?

Better than 0.5 48.1%

0.5 10.6%

Less than 0.5 41.3%

WHO WAS THE STAR OF RAW

Ric Flair 60.6%

The Shield 10.4%

C.M. Punk 6.1%

A.J. Lee 5.5%

Dolph Ziggler 4.0%

Big E Langston 4.0%

New Age Outlaws 3.4%

Tommy Dreamer 2.8%

Daniel Bryan 1.5%

John Cena 1.1%

Vickie Guerrero 0.8%

POLL ON RAW

Excellent 29.6%

Good 45.2%

Average 11.3%

Fair 5.6%

Poor 8.3%

9.3% of those responding didn't see the show

--Alexander Emelianenko, the younger brother of Fedor, who was a star in the Pride days, announced his retirement today on Facebook. He said he would no longer be able to fight because of health problems caused by old injuries.

--The Dream/Glory New Year's Eve show from the Saitama Super Arena is going to stream as an iPPV for $20

--Tickets for UFC 157, headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Liz Carmouche in Anaheim at the Honda Center go on sale today to Fight Club members. They go on sale to the public on Friday. This is the most interesting on sale for UFC in months.

--Trailer for "Pain and Gain," a new movie starring Dwayne Johnson at http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/12/19/michael-bay-drops-his-most-excessvie-trailer-ever-for-pain-gain/

--Patrick Cote has announced he's dropping from middleweight to welterweight.

--USA Today's web site had a brief note on Steve Borden Jr., the son of Sting, being recruited by the University of Kentucky.